Humidifier for tobacco containers



Aug. 28,-1928. 1,682,591

I l, N. BABBITT HUMIDIFIER FOR TOBACCO CONTAINERS Filed March 27, ,1926

Sworn mj patented Aug. 28, 1928.

UNITED STATES ISAAC N. BAIBBITT, OF FAIRHAVEN, MASSACHUSETTS.

HUMIDIFIER FOR TOBACCO CONTAINERS.

Application filed March 27, 1926.

The resent invention relates to humidif ing evices and particularly to devices of t is character employed in maintaining the contents of tobacco receptacles moist.\

A number of types of tobacco humidifying devices have been previously designed or suggested but for the most part such prior devices have been suitable for use only for imparting ymoisture to tobacco in bulk as in show cases, cabinets, etc. The object of the present invention is to provide a device by means of which loose tobacco in pocket containers may be maintained in the desired moistened condition. A further object is to provide such a device which may be used with a tobacco pouch of the flexible walled type, which will maintain the tobacco in a moistened condition and at the same time will not interfere with the foldingof the pouch in the pocket of the user nor with the removal of the tobacco when the user inserts his hand or pipe to remove a portion of the contents. Other advantages of the invention will become apparent as its nature is disclosed. l

The invention may have various embodiments and in the accompanying drawings one form is illustrated b way of example. Still other forms or em odiments may be devised, however, Without departing from its spirit and scope, the design and arrangement of the component elements ofthe invention being susceptible of considerable modification.

In the drawings: h

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a. flexible tobacco pouch, one Wall of which is partly broken away to show the improved humidifying device;

Figure 2 is a perspective view of the same showing the mouth of the pouch open;

F igures 3 and 4 are enlarged views showing, in lane and elevation respectively, one

Ameans orattachin the humidifying device to the inner wall of the pouch.

Many forms of flexible walled pouches for tobacco are now on the market and my invention may be applied to all forms' of which I have knowledge. The pouch illustrated has Walls 10 of leather and is lined with rubw ber but any suitable materials may be employed. The elongated mouth of the pouch is provided with a Well known type of closure device by means of which it may be closed b sliding a member 1l from that end at whic it is shown, to the opposite end,

Serial No. 98,035.

and opened by slidin this member in the reverse direction. Ot er forms of closure devices are lequally suitable, however, such as for instance, the flap type in which one portion of the pouch folds over the mouth to prevent the escape of tobacco.

Clips 12 are secured within the pouch at its ends and justbelow the edges of the mouth, preferably by passing the oppositely point-ed tongues or prongs 13 of each clip thru a seam or other protuberance from opposite direct-ions. A coiled spring 11i has its ends formed as hooks and 'these hooks engage the eyelet-like portions 16 of the clips. These hooks" may be completely closed so that the spring is non-removable or may be partially open so that the spring may be removed from the pouch by detachment of its ends from the clips 12. Vithin the spring is a tubular wick 15 or other body of water adsorbent material which extends substantially from one end of the spring to the other. Y

The spring comprises a flexible housing or casing for this wick, the moisture from the wick passing outwardly between the turns of the spring to be absorbed by the tobacco while at the saine time the turns are sufficiently close together to prevent the tobacco from coming in direct contact with the absorbent material and adhering thereto. When the pouch is first opened it will be seen that the spring lies centrally thereof, extending from end to end, as shown in Figure 9.. Vhen it is desired to remove tobacco from the pouch, however, the spring is easily and quickly pushed to one side to occupy a position such as shown in dotted lines in Figure 2, so that it oii'ers no hindrance to the ready removal of tobacco from the pouch either by hand or by the insertion of a pipe.

A humidifying device such as just described permits the user of a flexible tobacco pouch to maintain his tobacco in proper condition for smoking and at the same time adapts itself to the movements of the pouch, that is, it may be doubled upon itself if the pouch is folded, or otherwise deformed by any deformation to which the pouch itself subjected. When the wick has become dry the springr may be either removed from the pouch and dipped in water or may simply bc partially pulled out of the pouch and immersed. It occupies small Space, is attractive in appearance and is simple to fabricate and attach. Obviously, changes may be made in the design of the various parts, the clips may be differently formed, and the housing for the adsorbent material need not have the form of a spring, altho I prefer to use the spring, substantially as shown in the drawings, for many types ot' pouches. Fur thermore it will be apparent that the humidifier may be employed to meisten material other than tobacco, altho it will be most commonly used in connection with tobacco pouches and containers.

Having thus deseribed the invention, what is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

l. The combination with a pouch having flexible walls and a mouth provided with closure means, of ya humidifying device therefor eomprising'a. coiled spring having its ends secured to the walls of the pouch within the same and adjacent the mouth thereof, said spring being flexible and the walls thereof having spaces for the passage of water Vapor, and a quantity of absorbent material within the said member.

2. The combination with a receptacle for loose tobacco or the like having a mouth provided with closure means, of a humidifier secured therein adjacent the mouth thereof,

said humidifier comprising a quantity of water absorbent material and an elongated housing therefor, said housing having a wall provided with openings for the passage of water vapor and deformable so that it may be readily curved or deflected to one side or the other of its longitudinal axis under the iniuence of lateral forces but which resists forces tending to collapse or alter the cross section thereof, thereby preventing compres'. sion of `the absorbent material and wastage of water.

ISAAC N. BAB BITT.

3. rlhe combination set forth in claim 2' 

